Monday, April 16, 2012

DEATH AND TAXES !

In the late 1980's, a senior citizen was reading his newspaper on the Atlantic City boardwalk. When the urge prodded him off the bench, he advanced to one of the new, ultra-sanitary, public restroom kiosks, (the city aligned these small buildings at the head of every tenth street). While sitting there, perhaps while scanning the obituaries, a high-speed police chase up Atlantic Avenue took an ominous right turn, towards the ocean.

The would-be car thief zoomed down the beach block and came to an apparent "dead" end, (the boardwalk), but he wasn't ready to surrender. He envisioned a bold escape, floored the accelerator and climbed the narrow ramp onto the boards. At such a high speed, the perpetrator wove through shocked pedestrians but could not execute the sharp perpendicular turn. The car smashed through the suddenly less than sanitary public facilities...leaving the unsuspecting victim inside, less than alive.

The poor fellow was caught with his pants down and never saw this unlikely tragedy coming. However, even under more common circumstances, few of us will ever know when or how we die...we just know, we will. Ben Franklin said it best, "The only things certain in life are death and taxes."

IN ADDITION TO THE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL, FRANKLIN APPEARED ON THE U.S. HALF DOLLAR FROM 1948-1963.

We eventually all pay the grim reaper. It's ironic that some people call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the grim reaper and call "Tax Day," (April 15th), the day of reckoning, (the annual, income tax submission deadline).

SINCE 1917,THE MAIN IRS OFFICE HAS BEEN AT 1111 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, IN WASHINGTON D.C. THEY ESTABLISHED APRIL 15th AS TAX DAY, IN 1955 .

Interestingly, on April 15th this year, we observe the hundredth anniversary of the ill-fated Titanic. While most of us have a general knowledge of the tremendous loss of life caused by this colossal seafaring disaster, few of us are aware of one of its great heroes. This man's cool head under impossible circumstances, cheated death by saving lives but in so doing, left his reputation, to some, in doubt.

THE NAME TITANIC MEANS, A GIANT DEITY OR THING OF GREAT SIZE, STRENGTH OR POWER. WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE UNSINKABLE SHIP'S "AFTER" PICTURES...ABOVE IS A "BEFORE" SHOT.

Lieutenant William Murdoch was the Titanic's first officer. He was in charge of the bridge, on "the night to remember." When it collided, (sideswiped), the iceberg, sections of the hull, below the water line peeled away. It didn't take long before the "invincible" ship's maiden voyage was punctuated with irreversible peril.

WILLIAM MURDOCH, (FEBRUARY 28, 1873 - APRIL 15, 1912), WAS FROM A PROMINENT, NAUTICAL FAMILY. HE HAD PROVEN HIS OWN VALUE AS A NAVAL OFFICER LONG BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED BY WHITE STAR LINES, TO THE TITANIC.

When the direness of the situation became obvious, (before the age of standardized safety drills...which gained importance because of this catastrophe), passengers were largely left to their own devices. In some instances, a mob mentality took over with a mad rush for the lifeboats. The crew tried to organize these launchings but they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of selfish people. Therefore, little could be done to prevent partially filled lifeboats from abandoning the ship.

William Murdoch left the bridge and went to the starboard side of the doomed vessel. He maintained a high degree of order and was responsible for the safe evacuation of ten lifeboats with women and children. Some reports included him ordering his men to take babies, from mothers who refused to leave without their husbands, (some of the children were thrown down to the hands of people, in lowered lifeboats).

The controversy surrounding Murdoch has to do with fighting off panicking men trying to save them self. The fictionalized account of this in the 1997 movie, "TITANIC," was met with criticism by a nephew of Murdoch. He felt that the film's portrayal, damaged his uncle's heroic actions, because to stem the tide of riotous men, he shot and killed two of them.

The reality was, in the name of protecting the sanctity of, "women and children first," Murdoch fired warning shots. This action saved precious seconds as his crew saved more passengers. When the horde charged forward again, Murdoch bought some more time by shooting into the crowd. More lives were saved by this rash decision. But Murdoch felt despondent. Despite his motives being just, he was overwhelmed by guilt and moments later, committed suicide.

The movie's producer, James Cameron later apologized to the Murdoch family for depicting him taking a bribe. Instead, eyewitness accounts from survivors contradict that idea and acknowledge that he worked diligently until the end. Therefore, Cameron also endowed William Murdoch's hometown school district, (Dalbeattie Scotland), in his honor.

Over 1,500 souls that night were lost in the North Atlantic. But William Murdoch's unyielding devotion to his duty saved nearly 75% of the survivors from the grim reaper.

Like the gentleman in the toilet on the Atlantic City boardwalk, I'm certain that few guests (and crew), on the Titanic could have predicted their infamous demise. But if you are one of the few people today who haven't filed your taxes yet, you're in luck because this year, Tax Day has been extended to April 18th. So save yourself from the grim reaper, or at least a lot of aggravation, and git'r done.

4 comments:

Your article on Wm. Murdoch was an interesting bit of easily forgotten history. I find MGTP to be perfect for my needs. I'll keep following it and recommend this web-site to friends. You have something special going here, keep it up!

DEATH & TAX, another superb post. I am always amazed by your analysis of most extra-ordinary topics. The world will never know everything about Titanic but I'm glad I now know a little more. Task on! --- BLIGOO (Marseille France).

And now for the rest of the story: I also wonder if during the maiden voyage of this Titanic replica, the same scenario of a controlled collision with an iceberg would be created. Evacuation of the pretend sinking ship would also be part of this human experience. I can hear it all now...." man the lifeboats, women and children first!" "Oh, the humanity!" "Next stop, replica Hindenberg!"

NEIL ARMSTRONG - ASTRONAUNT (1930-2012)

MARCEL MARCEAU - MIME, ACTOR (1923-2007)

"FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY, I'M FREE AT LAST." and "DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS. ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE. ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT." and "I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER."

LINDSAY NELSON - SPORTSCASTER - (1919-1995)

"THEY, (THE 1962, NEW YORK METS), PLAYED FOR FUN, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PLAY ANY OTHER WAY."

SAM LEVENSON - HUMORIST-JOURNALIST (1911-1980)

IF YOU DIE IN AN ELEVATOR, BE SURE TO PRESS THE "UP" BUTTON.

BUDDHA (SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA) - SPIRITUAL TEACHER (c. 563 BC - 483 BC)

"THOUSANDS OF CANDLES CAN BE LIT FROM A SINGLE CANDLE, AND THE LIFE OF THE CANDLE WILL NOT BE SHORTENED. HAPPINESS NEVER DECREASES BY BEING SHARED." and "YOU CAN SEARCH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FOR SOMEONE MORE DESERVING OF YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION THAN YOU ARE YOURSELF AND THAT PERSON IS NOT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE. YOU YOURSELF, AS MUCH AS ANYBODY IN THE UNIVERSE, DESERVE YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION."

MOTHER TERESA - NUN & MISSIONARY (1910-1997)

"I KNOW GOD WILL NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING I CAN'T HANDLE, I JUST WISH HE DIDN'T TRUST ME SO MUCH."

SHIRLEY JACKSON - AUTHOR (1916-1965)

"I HAVE OFTEN NOTICED THAT ONE CAN OBSERVE WITH DETATCHMENT, SIGHTS THAT WHEN PUT INTO WORDS BECOME DISGUSTING."

MALCOLM X. - CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, CLERGYMAN (1925-1965)

"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SO BLIND WITH PATRIOTISM THAT YOU CAN'T FACE REALITY. WRONG IS WRONG NO MATTER WHO SAYS IT OR DOES IT."

MEL BLANC - VOICE ACTOR, COMEDIAN (1908-1989)

"THAT'S ALL FOLKS!"

MUHAMMAD ALI - BOXER, SOCIAL ACTIVIST (1942-Present)

"I AM THE GREATEST."

JACKIE GLEASON - ACTOR, COMEDIAN (1916-1987)

"THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO WITH MONEY... IS SAVE IT."

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU - 1st PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA - 1889-1964

"LIFE IS LIKE A GAME OF CARDS, THE HAND YOU ARE DEALT IS DETERMINISM. THE WAY YOU PLAY IT, IS FREE WILL."

HARRY TRUMAN - 33RD U.S. PRESIDENT - (1884-1972)

"IT'S A RECESSION WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR LOSES HIS JOB; IT'S A DEPRESSION WHEN YOU LOSE YOURS."

EDGAR ALLAN POE - AUTHOR (1809-1849)

"I HAVE NO FAITH IN HUMAN PERFECTABILITY. I THINK THAT HUMAN EXERTION WILL HAVE NO APPRECIABLE EFFECT UPON HUMANITY. MAN IS NOW ONLY MORE ACTIVE-NOT MORE HAPPY-NOR WISE, THAN HE WAS 6000 YEARS AGO."

CONFUCIUS - SOCIAL PHILOSOPHER - (551 BC - 479 BC)

"NEVER IMPOSE ONTO OTHERS WHAT YOU WOULD NOT CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF."

RODNEY DANGERFIELD - ACTOR - COMEDIAN - (1921-2004)

MY LUCK IS SO BAD, IF I INVESTED IN A CEMETERY, PEOPLE WOULD STOP DYING....Dangerfield's Tombstone, "THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD."

ZSA ZSA GABOR - ACTRESS - (1917-PRESENT)

"I NEVER HATED A MAN ENOUGH TO GIVE BACK HIS DIAMONDS."

RONALD REAGAN - 40th U.S. PRESIDENT - ACTOR (1911-2004)

"IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT POLITICS IS THE SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION. I HAVE LEARNED THAT IT BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLENCE TO THE FIRST.'

HASKEL "HY" EDELBLUM - FATHER, ROLE MODEL, ARTIST (1928-1995)

"IF SOMEONE IS TALKING TO THEM SELF AND YOU ANSWER, THEN THEY AREN'T TALKING TO THEM SELF."

OPRAH WINFREY TV Host, Producer, Philantropist (1954 to Present)

"CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR AND ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT." and "YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL. YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE IT ALL AT ONCE."

ERMA BOMBECK - AUTHOR, HUMORIST (1927-1996)

SHOPPING IS A WOMAN THING. IT'S A CONTACT SPORT LIKE FOOTBALL. WOMEN ENJOY THE SCRIMMAGE, THE NOISY CROWDS, THE DANGER OF BEING TRAMPLED TO DEATH AND THE ECSTASY OF THE PURCHASE.

TRUMAN CAPOTE - AUTHOR, HUMORIST (1924-1984)

LIFE IS A MODERATELY GOOD PLAY WITH A BADLY WRITTEN THIRD ACT.

CLARENCE DARROW - LAWYER (1857-1938)

AS LONG AS THE WORLD SHALL LAST THERE WILL ALWAYS BE WRONGS AND IF NO MAN OBJECTED AND NO MAN REBELLED, THESE WRONGS WOULD LAST FOREVER.